cheers, Rotational.

I’m one of those who get more done with e-mail. besides, who needs to be interrupted 15x day with phone calls that don’t make sense!!!!!!

okay, i hear ya: you cannot totally ignore the phone but to say its better than e-mail is missing the point. they can co-exist, but e-mail is one of the most efficient ways of communicating. Sure, make a quick call to re-schedule an appointment, but e-mail is the way to go!!!

Thanks for participating!

I agree: emails can be terribly impersonal, especially when sending ‘form-letter emails’. BUT I don’t think all are bad…

I myself take great care to ensure that every email, within reason, is as personal and has as ‘light’ a touch as possible. Often, clients have hired me on the basis of receiving my emails alone, so that can’t be bad!

I’m told that my emails convey a certain professionalism as well as friendly personality. If only they could see my face when I’m writing them. OK, that last bit was a joke.

I also agree in that there can be a great rapport with the right telephone skills. Even so, everything is said in the spur of the moment when using the phone (BTW, having a script is a great idea, and I have used many, but they can come across as stilted and, well, scripted!), and there if often no time for reflection as there is with email.

Where I personally think email comes out tops is that these days we’re so busy with so many pressing things, and a phone call (or 20 as I used to typically get in any one day) can just be one thing too many. I know many busy execs and clients who just can’t be doing with people phoning at will. When I was a journalist, the phone used to be my saviour and lifeblood. When I was an editor, it was the bane of my life. That’s when I started to communicate primarily by email.

Perhaps the solution is to set aside a specific time when one can focus on taking and making phone calls. They we’d all be more receptive. What do you think?

Overall, I believe the two can complement one another very well. But I will still prefer email. That’s because I’m a writer!

Phone calls also are a more personal approach and can be used to form firm relationships - excellent for marketing and networking purposes. As for forgetting what to say - if you had written down a list of items or questions to say before picking up the phone, collated over a period of days maybe, then your call would be therefore more efficient and effective.

Good friendships can be created and problems solved there and then on the phone - you don’t get that special feedback through email because it’s so impersonal.

If you’re frightened about using the phone, lots of practise will put that right - the more you do it, the easier it gets, and you soon realise it’s not so bad out there…

Dr. Tom Bibey

drtombibey.wordpress.com

Also, I think it depends on WHEN you read these kinds of books. What worked for me several years ago may well not be appropriate for me or where I am now.

The key is to read the contents, the prologue (and perhaps the first chapter), and the summary… If by then, you’re hooked and can’t wait to read more, then it’s probably the right book for you. If not, move on…

Almost! As it stands, no, I’m afraid it isn’t correct. It should read:

“I just wish that she and Papa were here to see my progress.”